Key Points

Speaking to ANI, Shrinate pointed out that the Congress withdrew its support from the former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar's government in March 1991 while the agreement was signed in April.

"First of all, Nishikant Dubey repeatedly displays his stupidity. Former PM Rajiv Gandhi withdrew support from the Chandrashekhar government on 6 March 1991. First of all, this is probably an agreement signed in April 1991. This agreement is for peacetime. It is about ensuring that there is no misunderstanding between the armies of the two countries during peacetime," she said.

"When we have taken action now, there was a terrorist attack on us, we have retaliated aggressively... So first of all, Nishikant Dubey and the BJP are accepting that EAM Jaishankar informed, and what Rahul Gandhi was saying was the truth. Jaishankar informed Pakistan, and the BJP itself is confirming it... The agreement he is referring to is a peace-time agreement. Jaishankar ji had informed that there would be a war-like situation," Supriya Shrinate said.

Congress leader Pawan Khera also defended Rahul Gandhi's recent criticism of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Khera dismissed the allegation, stating, 'This person needs to know that in late February 1991, the Indian National Congress had already withdrawn support from the Chandrashekhar government, and elections to the 10th Lok Sabha had been announced.'"

The row began after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey took to X to accuse Rahul Gandhi of hypocrisy. Citing a 1991 agreement signed under a Congress-backed government, Dubey claimed it obligated India and Pakistan to exchange information about military deployments and attacks.

He wrote, "Rahul Gandhi ji, this is an agreement made during the time of your government. In 1991, your party-supported government agreed that India and Pakistan would exchange information about any attack or army movement. Is this agreement treason?

Further adding to his criticism, Dubey said, "Congress is hand in glove with the Pakistani vote bank, does it suit you to make objectionable comments on Foreign Minister Dr S. Jaishankar ji?".

This exchange follows Rahul Gandhi's renewed criticism earlier this week of External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. The Congress leader questioned the minister's silence on the number of Indian Air Force aircraft lost during Operation Sindoor, insisting that the nation "deserves the truth."

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. It targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists. In response, Pakistan shelled border areas and carried out drone attacks, prompting India to conduct airstrikes on 11 Pakistani airbases. Both countries agreed to cease hostilities on May 10.

- ANI